Today is Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
It is the 156th day of the year.
210 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
South Korea suspends its inter-Korean agreement and the Gilgo Beach serial killer is facing new indictments. Details in HIT LIST.
JT helps a fan and ABBA gets knighted. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Suits” wraps up on Netflix and no reunion for the “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” Details in CASTING CALL.
Fans are still Keeping Up. Find out more in KARDASH.
JOHN LENNON’s son reviews PRINCE HARRY’s book in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
South Korea is suspending its 2018 inter-Korean agreement with North Korea in response to the latter’s trash-filled balloon shenanigans.
As previously reported, North Korea flew hundreds of balloons filled with cigarette butts, manure, scraps of cloth and waste paper to drop on South Korea in protest of civilian leafleting campaigns.
The suspension will last until mutual trust can be established between the two, according to South Korea’s presidential national security council. [via AP]
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Gilgo Beach serial killer REX HEUERMANN is reportedly being hit with additional murder charges.
The 60-year-old will appear for arraignment this week on the new charges, which come after another search of Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home. No details of what exactly led to the newest charges, however.
The married dad-of-two is currently in jail for the alleged murders of four women, though it is believed he had more victims. [via NY Post]
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Former Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is Mexico’s first woman to be president in more than 200 years of independence. She is also the first person from a Jewish background to lead the overwhelmingly Catholic country.
The 61-year-old scientist won the race with her promise of “continuity” and focus on combating the country’s high levels of violence. She will take office on October 1. [via NY Times]
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Sex offenders in Louisiana may soon face the ultimate punishment for their crimes: castration.
State lawmakers recently approved the new law, which would allow judges to order surgical castration for people convicted of sex crimes, including rape, molestation, and incest against a child under the age of 13.
After being approved by the state legislature it is now in the hands of Governor Jeff Landry.
WORTH NOTING: Louisiana -- and other states -- already have laws in place for chemical castration as a punishment, but none have passed the more-invasive surgical castration. The chemical route stops the production of sex hormones, while the surgical route would physically remove the parts that produce said hormones. [via NY Post]
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Ahead of ANTHONY FAUCI’s testimony in front of the House yesterday, a transcript of a previous conversation with the good doctor was released.
In that transcript Fauci stated he was “not aware of studies” stating social distancing would curb the spread of COVID-19 in schools and that he didn't “recall specifically” any studies or data supporting masking children.
Since both of those practices were implemented, however, there have been several studies showing the significant impact on “learning loss” and “speech and development issues” in young children. In addition to those setbacks, other studies have shown an increase in “depression, generalized anxiety, acute stress and intrusive thoughts” due to social distancing.
WORTH ASKING: At what point will it be admitted that the lockdowns, closures and isolation tactics were overkill? At what point do people stop shrugging their shoulders, saying “We didn’t know,” when there were so many people who were silenced for questioning the unknown? At what point does it get acknowledged that the misjustices of the pandemic have caused significant, lasting effects on today’s youth?
ALSO: Who’s responsible? [via Daily Mail]
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DEATHS
Football player LARRY ALLEN has died.
He passed away Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. No further details were shared.
Allen was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 draft and went on to become one of the best offensive linemen in the history of the league.
He was only 52.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW dropped 115 points (0.30%) to close at 38,571 on Monday. The S&P increased 6 points (0.11%) to close at 5,283 and the NASDAQ increased 94 points (0.56%) to close at 16,828.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $74; BRENT CRUDE at $78.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Monday.
₿ BITCOIN increased on Monday, trading around $69,196.
🛩 There were more than 3,296 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and more than 194 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $560 million jackpot or a $258.4 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
TAYLOR SWIFT’s “The Tortured Poets Department” spent its sixth week atop the Billboard 200 albums chart -- a first since MORGAN WALLEN’s “One Thing at a Time” led the chart for its first 12 weeks in 2023.
The latest release ties Swift’s “Folklore” album for the most weeks at No. 1 from its debut.
Also, she is now tied with JAY-Z for most No. 1s among soloists with 75 weeks at No. 1. [via Billboard]
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Minnesota Vikings receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON has agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension with $110 million guaranteed.
The deal makes him the highest-paid receiver and highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. [via NFL]
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JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE paused his show at the University of Texas over the weekend to help a fan in need.
A video of the incident shows JT asking for the house lights to be turned on while alerting event staff to a fan near the stage.
The person was attended to quickly and later able to return and enjoy the rest of the show. No word on what exactly the emergency was. [via TMZ]
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Actor ZACHARY QUINTO is no longer welcome at Manita in Toronto after the eatery claims he acted like “an entitled child.”
In an Instagram rant, the restaurant called Quinto “an amazing Spock, but terrible customer,” after he allegedly yelled at the staff, made a host cry and ruined brunch for fellow diners with his poor attitude.
Quinto, who is in Canada celebrating his 47th birthday, has not addressed the incident. [via Page Six]
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All four members of ABBA reunited on Friday to be knighted by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
The foursome are now Commanders of First Class for “very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life,” the Associated Press reports. [via AP]
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SIMONE BILES extended her all-time record in the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, with her ninth title.
The 37-year-old also took home gold in every event she competed in. [via Bleacher Report]
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CYNDI LAUPER is hitting the road one final time.
The “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” -- her first in over a decade -- will hit 23 cities across North America, with special guests who will be announced at a later date.
The tour kicks off this October and runs through December.
ALSO: The announcement comes just before a new documentary exploring Lauper’s life premieres on Paramount+. [via Pitchfork]
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CASTING CALL
SOFIA VERGARA has been hit with a new lawsuit over the Netflix series, “Griselda.”
The actress, who plays the titular character, faces more accusations of unauthorized use of a character’s image and likeness, this time by a family related to the Medellin Cartel, which Griselda was the head of.
According to the suit, the family of the late Rafael Cardona Salazar, a drug trafficker who worked for Griselda, claims that producers never asked for permission to use his image or likeness in the show.
In addition to demanding a jury trial, Salazar’s family is also seeking $50,000 in damages.
Remember, Griselda’s children filed a lawsuit just days before the series was to premiere, requesting an injunction to stop its release. They argued that Netflix -- and Vergara -- “ripped off” their mom’s story. Things were settled out of court shortly after the filing. [via The Blast]
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Season 9 of “Suits” will hit Netflix on July 1.
The final installment of the series was previously only available on Peacock.
MEANWHILE: Still no airdate for “Suits” spinoff show “Suits: LA,” starring STEPHEN AMELL as a former New York prosecutor who now leads a Los Angeles law firm. [via THR]
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“New Jersey Housewives” fans will miss out on a reunion this year after Bravo decided to cancel the sit down due to ongoing issues amongst the cast members.
“A reunion is meant to have a resolution and it’s clear in the season finale that there is no path forward in that type of setting,” an insider told Decider.
Season 14 is currently airing on Bravo. [via Decider]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
The Season 5 debut of “The Kardashians” brought in 3.9 MILLION viewers globally, making it the most-watched unscripted series premiere this year on all Disney streaming platforms.
The debut also marked the second most-watched entertainment premiere this year; “Shogun” was No. 1.
Also, viewership for the first season has tripled since the latest premiere, meaning fans are keeping up with past drama.
FOR THE RECORD: While their current show is in its fifth season, the family has been part of reality TV for 25 seasons in total. [via Deadline]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
SEAN ONO LENNON, the only child of JOHN LENNON and YOKO ONO, says he finally picked up PRINCE HARRY’s memoir and has two words to describe it: “Spare Me.”
In response to his review on X, royal fans tried to defend Harry, to which Sean doubled down, calling him “a buffoon” and “an idiot.” Elsewhere, Sean blasted Harry for “the way he whines and wangs on about things” -- specifically his frostbitten penis.
Regardless of negative reviews, “Spare” did well, selling $1.4 million copies on its first day. [via X]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
International Corgi Day
Invisible Day
National Christian T-Shirt Day
National Old Maids Day
Shopping Cart Day
World Day for Assistive Technology
National SAFE Day
National Hug Your Cat Day
National Cheese Day
National Cognac Day
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ON THIS DATE
781 BC - China documents the first solar eclipse on record.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun causing temporary darkness. A minimum of two, AND a maximum of five solar eclipses occur each year.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the sun is blocked in its entirety and this occurs no more than twice each year.
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1584 - Sir Walter Raleigh establishes the first English colony in the Americas.
The Roanoke Colony would later be part of present-day North Carolina. The final known inhabitants would disappear during the Anglo-Spanish War a full three years after the last supply shipment from England.
For this reason, it has been known as "The Lost Colony"
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1783 - The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate their invention of the first contemporary-style hot air balloon.
Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier got the idea six years earlier when they observed how laundry drying over a fire would sometimes form pockets and billow upwards. The lifting force of the test flight of their prototype in December of the previous year was too extreme and it flew out of control for over a mile.
The public demonstration of their invention took place in Annonay, France and flew at a height of one mile for ten minutes.
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1896 - Henry Ford puts the finishing touches on his first gas-powered vehicle, the Ford Quadricycle.
The automobile was powered by a two-cycle engine that produced four horsepower.
It was driven by a chain and used bicycle tires. The transmission had two gears that were capable of moving the vehicle at speeds of 10 miles per hour in 1st gear and 20mph in 2nd gear.
Ford would go on to found the Ford Motor Company in 1903 and become one of the world’s richest men.
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1919 - Congress approves the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote.
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted the amendment in 1878. It took 41 years for congress to submit it to the states for ratification. After approximately a year Tennessee became the final affirmative vote and it was added to the constitution.
On June 10th, six days later, Wisconsin became the first state to ratify the amendment.
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1976 - The Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns square off in the fifth game of the NBA finals.
At the end of regulation play the teams were tied at 95 points.
One overtime later, they were tied at 101.
In the second overtime, they tied at 112.
Finally, after three overtimes, the Celtics bested the Suns 128-126.
This game is called by many the best NBA Finals game ever.
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2018 - Former President Bill Clinton tells NBC that he hasn’t and doesn’t need to apologize to Monica Lewinsky.
As many know, he “did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
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BIRTHDAYS
Princess Lilibet of Sussex - daughter of Harry & Meg - 3
Mackenzie Ziegler - pop singer - 20
Nicholas Scott Ure - pop singer - 25
Quincy Brown - actor, “Dope” - 33
Bar Rafaeli - model - 39
TJ Miller - comedian - 43
Brandon Jenner - reality star & son of Caitlyn Jenner - 43
Angelina Jolie - actress, “Girl, Interrupted” & “Maleficent” - 49
Russell Brand - actor, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” - 49
Al B. Sure! - R&B singer - 56
Bradley Walsh - actor, “Doctor Who” - 64
Michelle Phillips - folk singer, Mamas & Papas - 80
Born On This Date
Priscilla Morril - actress, “Mary Tyler Moore” - 1927 (d. 1994)
George III - King of Great Britain & Ireland - 1738 (d. 1820)
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